by Hope Lee

Created on: February 07, 2009   Last Updated: February 12, 2009

Nicaragua, located in Central America between Costa Rica and Honduras, offers a beautiful and historic vacation spot to travelers from around the world. Tropical rainforest reserves, a large freshwater lake, and a multitude of volcanoes contribute to its natural beauty, while historic colonial buildings, ceramics made the way they were before Columbus, and delicious food add cultural depth.

Current Government

Nicaragua's current government is a republic loosely modeled on the US system with three branches of government. The current president is President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, a former Sandinista, who was elected in 2006 to a five year term. Elections for all branches of government are held every five years, and everyone can vote beginning at age 16.

The legislative branch of government consists of a single chamber National Assembly. Ninety of its seats are elected during legislative elections, while one seat is held by the outgoing president and another is held by the runner-up in the presidential elections. Judges in the national courts are elected by the National Assembly every five years. The government is based in the capital city, Managua, and administrates the country by dividing it into fifteen administrative zones and two autonomous regions.

Natural Resources & Biodiversity

Nicaragua is a country rich in natural resources. About 20% of the country is designated as protected areas, and about one third of the country is still covered by forests, including tropical rainforests, tropical dry forests, and cloud forests. The country is also home to a vast diversity of wildlife, including cougars, jaguars, and 700 species of bird like the quetzal and hummingbird.

Two reserves in particular are popular places to visit and view the flora and fauna. Located in the north-central part of Nicaragua, the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve and houses the second largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. It is necessary to obtain permission from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and hire a local guide before visiting. These precautions protect the endangered animals and way of life on the reserve as well as providing for the local economy. An easy way to deal with this requirement is to go through a tour company who will make the arrangements.

Another popular reserve is the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, which has a large lowland tropical rainforest. It is a great place to view rainforest animals, hike, visit the mangrove

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